Two members of the ultraconservative House Freedom Caucus blocked a bipartisan bill on Election night that would have repealed previous measures limiting Social Security benefits for certain retired public workers.
The bill, introduced by Reps. Abigail Spanberger, D-Va., and Garret Graves, R-La., would have eliminated Social Security provisions that reduce benefits for retirees who've received a public pension working in a job not covered by the government program, and reduce benefits received by surviving spouses who collect a government pension.
The bill would affect approximately 2.8 million Americans.
It had received 330 cosponsors including House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La. - more than the 218 needed for a petition to force the legislation to the floor.
But Reps. Bob Good, R-Va., and Andy Harris, R-Md., during a pro forma session (a brief meeting of the House where business is typically not conducted) on Tueday effectively tabled the legislation, according to Roll Call.
Graves dismissed the move as a stunt, the outlet reported.
The Congressional Budget Office estimated that the bill would cost about $196 million over ten years, and it comes as the House Freedom Caucus had been demanding spending cuts.
Richard Fiesta, Executive Director of the Alliance for Retired Americans, a grassroots advocacy organization, called on Johnson to bring the legislation to the floor for a vote.
This issue affects millions of Americans, and the bill to restore their benefit deserves an up or down vote on the merits,” he said in a statement.
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